Thomas l



(No Model) Y T. L. RAN-KIN.

4 Ammbn ia Still for IoeMaohi'nes.

No. 240,762. 7 Patented April26, I881.

N- PETERS, PHOTOLITHOGRAFNER. WASilINGTDN. D c.

UNITED) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS L. RANKIN,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AMMONIA-STILL FOR ICE-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of.Letters Patent No. 240,762,dated April 26, 1881,

Application filed October 1, 1880. (No model.)

rtion thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 2, an end view, partly in section; and Figs. 3 and 4 are details of parts of my invention. Fig. 5 is a section through the ends of the still-pipes and their col'inecting-pipes; and

Fig. 6, a view of the end of the still, showing the manner of connecting the still-pipes by smaller connecting-pipes.

My invention relates to ammonia-stills for ice-machines, and has for its object to prevent the boiling over of the ammonia during the process of distilling the same.

To such end my improvement consists in causing the ammonia-water to traverse separately pipes passed through a boiler-shell or furnace, and blowing off the water and steam' from the .lower and hotter still-pipes through a chamber which receives the incoming ammonia-water into the upper still-pipes which lead from said chamber.

In order to more fully explain my invention, I will first describe the same in connection with the drawings, and then point out in the claims the features which I regard as novel.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates the boiler-shell, into which steam is admitted for the purpose of heating the still-pipes.

The stil1-pipes,which pass through the boilershell, are arranged to form a lower series or system of pipes, B, and an upper series of 1 pipes, B B, which extend out to some length beyond the} rear end of the boiler-shell and 5, connect with a chamber, D, formed by a castiron casing, D.

Instead of employing the boiler-shell herein shown,the still-pipes may pass directly through ber D, and connecting with the upper end of the stand-pipe are two pipes, f and g, the pipe f being employed for admitting ammoniawater into the stand-pipe, and the pipe 9 being used for conducting the gas which rises from the still to the condenser.

\Vithin the stand-pipe is located a vertical rod, I, upon which are arranged a series of sleeves provided with horizontal drip-plates i, the said sleeves being preferably conpled'together by serrations in their ends, so that the drip-plates can be adjusted. as desired.

The upper still-pipes, B, connect with each other at their forward ends by means of a pipe, h, and one of these pipes B connects with one of the series of pipes B by a pipe, h, which extends to some distance within the said pipe B. This pipe B connects with the next one of the pipes B of the lower series by a pipe, k one end of which extends to some distance within the first-mentioned pipe B of the said lower series of still-pipes. The secon d-mentioned pipe B connects with the next one of the pipes B by a pipe, [L3, and all of the remaining pipes are I so connected in order that the ammonia-water still-pipes, are so arranged in order to keep the still-pipes full during the circulation of the ammonia through them.

From the rear ends of the still-pipes B pipes c are arranged to lead to the chamber D and to open therein directly opposite to the upper still-pipes, B.

In using the still, strong ammonia-water is forced through the pipe f into the stand-pipe by means of any suitably-arranged apparatus. The ammonia-water then flows down through the stand-pipe and over the drip-plates therein into the chamber D, and in passing down over the drip-plates condenses any steam issuing from the still with the gas, which passes up through the stand-pipe to the pipe g, which conveys the gas to the condenser. From the chamber D the ammonia-water passes into the upper still-pipes, B, and from-thence circulate through the remaining still-pipes B in regular succession, owing to the connections made between such pipes, as already explained. In

passing down through the still-pipes the ammonia becomes hotter and hotter, and hence,

by reason or the high temperature to which it is raised in the lower still-pipes, has a tendency to boil over. The steam and water, however, from the lower still-pipes pass from or blow ofi' through the pipes which lead from the lower still-pipes to the chamber D, and, passing across said chamber, enter the open ends of the upper still-pipes, B, thereby serving the double purpose of heating the inflowing ammonia, and by the circulation of the liquid thus induced efl'ectively preventing any boiling over of the ammonia, no matter how irregular the heat of the steam or fire in the furnace may be. The temperature of the ammonia-water in the still-pipes is also equalized and the best possible results obtained.

I would observe that I do not regard the entrance of the pipes it into the pipes B as material, and they may, without altering the principle of my invention, terminate short oft inside the still-pipes without projecting therein, as shown in dotted lines.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

' .l. The method of preventing 'the boiling over of the ammonia-water in ammonia-stills for ice-machines, the same consisting in circulatingthe ammonia-water through the series of heated still-pipes and blowing off the steam and water from the lower stillpipes back through a chamber receiving the supply of ammoniawater into the upper still-pipes, substantially as described.

2. In an ammonia-still for ice-machines, the combination, with the stand-pipe, into which the ammonia-water is first introduced and from which the gas arising from the still is conducted off to the condenser, of a chamber at the base of the stand-pipe, the upper still-pipes connecting with said chamber and the lower still-pi pes connecting with the upperstill-pipes, substantially in the manner described, and also connecting with the said chamber at the base of the stand-pipes by pipes arranged to open into the chamber opposite to the ends of the upper still-pipes opening therein, substantially as described.

3. In an ammoniastill for ice-machines, the combination, with the chamber D, ot'the upper still-pipes, B, connecting with said chamber, and the lower stilLpipes, B, connecting with the upper pipes and with each other, substantially as described, the said pipes B being also connected with the chamber D by pipes opening into said chamber opposite the open ends of the pipes B, so that the steam and water blown off from the lower still-pipes will shoot directly across the chamber into the open ends of the pipes B, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

T. L. RANKIN.

Witnesses:

W. O. MCARTHUR, G. O. EILENBERG. 

